1820

[jimrtex]

5 new states, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine, and Missouri enter the Union, splitting 3-2 in favor of popular election of electors.  In addition, Massachusetts switches back to popular election, and Connecticut uses popular election for the first time.

Now that voters could vote, all we needed were some candidates.   However, 1820 was the most lopsided elections in US history, as Monroe failed to receive a unanimous victory when one New Hampshire elector cast his vote for John Quincy Adams.

Some presidential election trivia:

The Missouri electoral vote was challenged on grounds that Missouri was not a State.  The President of the Senate read the final tally both with and without inclusion of the electoral votes from Missouri, leaving the issue unresolved.

Delaware had 4 electoral votes for only 3 elections (1812, 1816, and 1820).  Before and since, they have had one representative and 3 electors.  However, in two of those elections, 1816 and 1820, only 3 electors voted. 

Popular Election: ME 9, NH 8, MA 15, RI 4, CT 9, NJ 8, PA 25, MD 11, VA 25, NC 15, KY 12, TN 8, OH 8, MS 3, and IL 3, total 163.

Legislature: NY 29, DE 4, SC 11, GA 8, VT 8, LA 3, IN 3, AL 3, and MO 3, total 72.

Maine 9 electors.

Maine's first election since separation from Massachusetts.  Maine elects one elector from congressional district, and two statewide.

New Hampshire 8 electors.

New Hampshire electors were chosen statewide.  The renegade elector for John Quincy Adams had been chosen as a D-R elector.

Massachusetts 15 electors.

A Federalist slate defeated a D-R slate pledged to Monroe (68% to 32%).  Even they voted for Monroe.  My recollection is that one of the electors was John Adams.  If we consider John Quincy Adams as representing the "opposition" to Monroe, then even his own father did not vote for him.

Rhode Island 4 electors.

Elected at large.

Connecticut  9 electors.

Connecticut uses popular election for the first time, electing electors on a statewide basis.

New Jersey 8 electors.

No returns available.

Pennsylvania 25 electors.

An independent slate pledged to De Witt Clinton received around 6% of the vote, most from Philadelphia.

Maryland 11 electors.

Maryland continues its system of electing electors from 9 electoral districts (2 districts elect 2 electors).

Virginia 25 electors.

Elected statewide.

North Carolina 15 electors.

Elected statewide.

Kentucky 12 electors.

4 chosen from each of 3 electoral districts.  The results seem to indicate that the candidates were running as individuals rather than as a slate.  For example, in the 2nd district: 1911, 1471, 1432, 1346 (4 elected), 1158, 1096, 985, 791, 680, 672, 639, 418, 296, 137.

Tennessee 8 electors.

Chosen from 8 electoral districts.  The limited results available show contests among D-R electors.

Ohio 8 electors.

Elected statewide.

Mississippi 3 electors.

Electors chosen statewide.  The 4th place candidate received about 2/3 of the vote of the 1st place candidate.

Illinois 3 electors.

Electors are elected from 3 electoral districts.  The map provides an interesting insight into the development of the state.  By 1820, 15 counties had been organized in the area south of the tier from St Clair to Edwards counties, in the area bounded by the Mississippi, Ohio, and Wabash rivers, more or less south of St Louis (there are 25 modern counties in this area).   The area north of I-80 and northwest of I-55 was Indian Lands. 

The area in between was organized into 4 counties:

Madison County: everything north and northwest of present day Madison County, about to Moline.

Bond County, a long strip northward from present day Bond County.

Crawford County, an east-west strip from present day Crawford County to about Vandalia.

Clark County, everything north of Crawford County.  Present day Clark county is in the extreme southeast corner.  At least some of Chicago would be in this county.